Monthly Archives: December 2015

‘Tis the season, and rangers and volunteers in the Gorge are feeling holiday spirit!

Last week, rangers changed the light bulbs on “Thor’s Crown” from all white to red and green. And over the past week, rangers and Vista House volunteers have been working on decorating Vista House’s first ever tree! As always, it’s been a team effort to make the holidays happen.

Special Thanks

To the Olcott Christmas Tree farm in Corbett, Oregon for donating the perfect tree.

To the Friends of Vista House Volunteer Development Committee for donating ornaments and helping to decorate.

To the Friends of Vista House Volunteer Coordinator for donating a train for under the tree.

To the Park Rangers and Vista House Volunteers for keeping the lights on and the tree watered.

We found the perfect tree! Mr. Olcott graciously cut it down for us.

. . . and then generously loaded it into our park truck!

Many thanks to Olcott’s Christmas Trees in Corbett, Oregon for donating our first tree!

Rangers were dedicated to getting the tree just right!

Thanks to Vista House volunteers for their time and donations!

Join us at Vista House this weekend or next to catch the holiday spirit! We’re open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, weather depending.

Don’t have your own tree yet? Check out this guide to local tree farms from the Pamplin Media Group:

Winter storms have hit early and hard this year in the Columbia River Gorge. Wind gusts are consistently in the 70 mph-range and ice still coats the trees, roads, and buildings around Crown Point. Temperatures are slowly rising and winds have crept down from the 80s. And Vista House’s Crown Point — once called “Thor’s Heights” — has lived up to its stormy name.

Here’s a look around the west end of the Gorge:

Angel’s Rest Trailhead’s new ice skating rink.

Ice-coated trees at Rooster Rock State Park.

Ice covered vehicles in the town of Corbett, Oregon.

Wind and ice have taken out many trees — and sometimes the power with it.

A passenger’s view of the Historic Columbia River Highway outside of Corbett, Oregon.

The road to Vista House on Thursday morning.

The view to Vista House from an icy Portland Women’s Forum.

A melting ice castle. Vista House on Crown Point.

Wondering what the winds and temps are like at Vista House? You can click here to check our weather station: